diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/config/config.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
index 23046d42..caefad82 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
@@ -29,16 +29,63 @@ function ensureDefaultConfigs() {
     }
 }
 
+// Welcome content inlined to work with bundled builds (esbuild changes __dirname)
+const WELCOME_CONTENT = `# Welcome to Rowboat
+
+This vault is your work memory.
+
+Rowboat extracts context from your emails and meetings and turns it into long-lived, editable Markdown notes. The goal is not to store everything, but to preserve the context that stays useful over time.
+
+---
+
+## How it works
+
+**Entity-based notes**
+Notes represent people, projects, organizations, or topics that matter to your work.
+
+**Auto-updating context**
+As new emails and meetings come in, Rowboat adds decisions, commitments, and relevant context to the appropriate notes.
+
+**Living notes**
+These are not static summaries. Context accumulates over time, and notes evolve as your work evolves.
+
+---
+
+## Your AI coworker
+
+Rowboat uses this shared memory to help with everyday work, such as:
+
+- Drafting emails
+- Preparing for meetings
+- Summarizing the current state of a project
+- Taking local actions when appropriate
+
+The AI works with deep context, but you stay in control. All notes are visible, editable, and yours.
+
+---
+
+## Design principles
+
+**Reduce noise**
+Rowboat focuses on recurring contacts and active projects instead of trying to capture everything.
+
+**Local and inspectable**
+All data is stored locally as plain Markdown. You can read, edit, or delete any file at any time.
+
+**Built to improve over time**
+As you keep using Rowboat, context accumulates across notes instead of being reconstructed from scratch.
+
+---
+
+If something feels confusing or limiting, we'd love to hear about it.
+Rowboat is still evolving, and your workflow matters.
+`;
+
 function ensureWelcomeFile() {
-    // Copy welcome.md to knowledge directory if it doesn't exist
+    // Create Welcome.md in knowledge directory if it doesn't exist
     const welcomeDest = path.join(WorkDir, "knowledge", "Welcome.md");
     if (!fs.existsSync(welcomeDest)) {
-        // Look for welcome.md in the dist/knowledge directory (bundled with the package)
-        // __dirname is dist/config, so we need to go up one level to find dist/knowledge
-        const welcomeSrc = path.join(__dirname, "..", "knowledge", "welcome.md");
-        if (fs.existsSync(welcomeSrc)) {
-            fs.copyFileSync(welcomeSrc, welcomeDest);
-        }
+        fs.writeFileSync(welcomeDest, WELCOME_CONTENT);
     }
 }